Ancient Sicily

Description

• Step into the Villa del Casale to view its stunning Roman mosaics, widely regarded as the richest collection in the world

• Uncover remarkable architectural fusions, from William II’s Norman-Byzantine cathedral of Monreale to the Palatine Chapel in Palermo, resplendent with Byzantine mosaics

• Syracuse offers a wealth of cultural delights including the Archaeological Park with its Roman amphitheatre, Greek theatre and catacomb riddled quarries once used to construct the ancient city

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Even the most worldly surveyor of ancient civilisations is mesmerised by the monumental grandeur of Agrigento – “Athens with improvements”, according to one 19th century visitor.

Our circuit of historic Sicily, starting in the heart of Palermo, travels via Agrigento and Syracuse to Taormina – Goethe’s “patch of paradise”, characterised by idyllic coastal vistas.As well as absorbing the monumental magnificence of Sicily’s Classical heritage, we will examine later cultural influences, from the UNESCO listed Norman-Byzantine cathedral of Monreale, built by William II, to the extraordinary Arabo-Norman architecture of Palermo. We discover these cultural treasures under the blue skies of early summer, when mild daytime temperatures create perfect conditions for exploring the island’s outdoor sites.

The Temple of Olympian Zeus at Agrigento, along with the great Temple G at Selinunte, was amongst the largest in the entire Greek world, presenting an astonishing display of wealth and power. The highlights of Syracuse, “the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all” in the opinion of Cicero, include the vast Archaeological Park and the island of Ortygia, where the Baroque façade of the cathedral barely conceals the Doric columns of the ancient Temple of Athena. The Roman villa at Piazza Armerina contains some of the finest mosaics in existence, with remarkable depictions of mythological figures and ancient life.

Palermo, like Monreale, revels in afusion of Islamic, Byzantine, Norman and Romanesque traditions. The city’s Palatine Chapel in the Palazzo dei Normanni is distinguished, above all, by its overwhelming Byzantine mosaics – mosaics that are rivaled by the golden masterpieces on display in the cathedral in Monreale.

7

Day

8

Temple of Apollo followed by excursion to town of Noto (fine example of Sicilian Baroque architecture). Afternoon: Villa del Tellaro (4th century with fine mosaics). Free evening with optional visit to Sicilian puppet theatre.